asked the Minister for Health the maximum earnings limit for eligibility for a medical card for a local authority tenant who is on differential rent and who has four dependants, i.e. wife and three school-going children.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Medical Card Eligibility.
14.
Income limits for entitlement to medical cards have not been specified. At present, decisions by health boards regarding eligibility are based on the particular circumstances of the applicant.
As I informed Deputy Tully on 12th May, 1971, Official Report, vol. 253 No. 11, I propose at an early date to make regulations under section 45 of the Health Act, 1970, specifying the classes of persons who will have full eligibility for health services.
Does the Minister not realise that meanwhile many people are deprived of medical cards by virtue of the fact that this does not apply? The income of their children in the household is taken into account although they are not contributing to the household. Does he not consider that there is need to introduce this at a very early stage?
I should not like to confuse the issue. It had better be done as part of one resolution introduced into the Dáil and Seanad so that everybody understands the position.